Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Stockpiling Explosives

Brad Spafford, a 36-year-old Virginia man, pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing an unregistered short-barrel rifle and the largest cache of finished explosives ever seized by the FBI, including approximately 150 pipe bombs. Authorities began investigating Spafford in 2023 after a friend who was a law enforcement officer became an informant, reporting his use of then-President Joe Biden's photos for target practice and support for political assassinations. Spafford stored unstable explosives in unsecured areas of his home, including a garage freezer with food and a backpack labeled '#NoLivesMatter.' After the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump, he expressed hope for a successful attempt against Kamala Harris and mentioned pursuing sniper qualifications. Spafford, who previously lost three fingers in an explosives accident, has remained in jail since his December arrest and faces up to 10 years in prison on each count, with sentencing scheduled for December. The case has raised concerns about extremist rhetoric and the accessibility of homemade explosives.